Speed reducer



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,256

' D. E. WASHINGTON SPEED REDUQER Filed Feb. 20. 1926 2 Shets-Sheet 1 I NV EN TOR.

- D. E. WASHINGTON SPEED REDUCER Filed Feb. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 xx I 7 I /5 g 7 I z w 7 S I INVE NTOR. 2 \1 DiXDIlE-WH5h1T1 131ml Patented $ept. 25, 1928.

DIXON E. WASHINGTON, or Kansas errr, iarssoiiai.

SPEED REDUCE-R. I

Application filed February 20,1926. Serial No. 89,595

This invention relates to speed reducers and has for its primary ob ect the provision of a machine of that character which is ex tremely simple in structure, performs a maximum amount of work with a minimum number of pans and may be utilized in obtaining any desired speed 'eduction with the use of but nine "ears at all times.

A primary object of the invention is the contemplation of the useof a revolving differential case which houses a pair of master gears, each keyed to a shaft, from which may be taken off medium andlow speed power.

Another object ofthe present invention s the provision of a speed reducer which utilizes the difference in speed of two rotated parts thereof to obtain the low speed desired, said low-speed being controlled by the speed ratio ofthe two elements. 7

An even further object of this invention is to provide a speed reducer possible of crea.ting low and medium speeds having the takeoff shafts rotating at rates of speed controllable by the number of teeth on two main gears rotated by the high speed shaft. it Many minor objects and specific details of novel construction will appear during "the course of the detailed specification referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a speed reducer made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section of the same taken along the meeting line ofupper and lower portions of the support.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken along line III--IH of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. p a

Fig. at is another vertical cross section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the ma-' chine taken on line VV of Fig. &, and,

Fig. 6 is a view of the differential unit and internal ring gear, entirely removed from the bearings of the support.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and the V,

numeral 7 designates a support of any suitable character which, in this showing, is a combined housing andsupport adapted to be 7 filled with oil tomaintain perfect lubrication. Suitable bearings for all shafts QJ'GPI'OVlClGCl by support 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and

the upper half of the support is rem'ovably affixed to the lower half by bolts or the like 8. The specific desi n of the support is not an i p the invention, as long as it is capable' of maintaining the hereinafter described la tion.

important feature of high-speed powerthrough a pulley or analogous :means 10 This shaft 9 is securely mounted'for rotary motion in bearings 12,

and 13, formed by support 7,and carries'pinions 15. and '16 which mesh with an idler sprocketpinion 17 and d fferential internal ring gear 18 respectively, as clearly shown the like 24.

Intermediate speed shaft- '23 enters a differential. case 25 through a doublebearing 26,-

and is keyed to intermediate master gear 27 of the-differential gear-set within case 25. A

low speed shaft 28 is likewise supported in a double bearing 29 and enters case 25-wl1ere it s keyed or otherwise rigidly afiiXedt-o a low speed master gear 30. Medium and low speed shafts 23 and'28 respectivelyare rotatably mounted in double bearings 26 and 29 respectively, and are inaxial alinement. This con-. struction also permits of the bearings 31 and 32 of case'25 to be rotated in bearings 26 and 29wrespe'ctivelyin the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, thus, Teasing 25 and shafts 23 and 28 parts in their proper working re m 60. A driving'shaft t) may receive the initialin bearings 20' and are relatively free to rotate in either direc tion.

The two master gears 27 and 30, within dif-, ferential case 25 are in mesh with a pair of idler gears 33 and 34, each of which is sup ported by case 25 throughthe intermediacy of stub shafts 35 and 36 respectively. The dif' ferential ring gear 18 is. rigidly affixed to case 25 and rotates therewith. The foregoing description of the various elements of the speed reduction device makes clear the specific construction of the particular embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. 7

During the description of ts operation, the

reducer will beset forth in aspecificma-nner through the use of a representative ratio between the various parts.

As an example, the high speed shaft 9 may be rotated at the rate of 3600 revolutions per minute in a clockwise direction. This power medium speed master gear is transmitted to the medium speed master gear 27 through pinion 15, idler gear 17 and spur gear 22. As a result of the idler, the direction of travel of gear 22 is the same as high speed shaft 9 and medium speed master gear 27 of the differential unit moves therewith at a speed of say 213 revolutions per minute. i

As this action is taking place, pinion 16 rotates differential internal ring gear 18 in. a I

clockwise direction at a speed of say 214 revolutions per minute. This gear 18 rotates case'25 and idlers 33 and 3 1 at this speed as medium speed master gear is being rotated as above set forth.- Thus, slow speed and itssupporting shaft 28 receives the difference in speed of thetwo which is one revolution per minute in the dicase 25,

frect-ion of the fastest moving part, i. e., the

which is .moving 111a clockwise direction at a speed of 214 revolutionslper minute. v

If the relative speed of gears 18 and 22, as they have been described herein, is interchanged, that is the speed of gear 22 set at 214 revolutions per minute, and that of gear 18 set at 213 revolutions per minute, the direction of travel of slow speed shaft 28 will 9 be opposite in direction to the travel of shaft The number of teeth in gears 18 and 22 may be varied to change the speeds as set forth, and the amount of reduction varied over an unlimited range.

v r If desired, work may be taken ofi the medium'speed shaft at the same time thelow speed shaft is being used, and the ratio of speed established atany point.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A speedreducer comprisinga supports ing casing, a iiferential case rot-ata'bly caring one of said ried thereby, a differential gear-set Within I said case including a pair of master gears disposed in axial alinement and each keyed V to a shaft extending .exteriorly of said differential case androtatably mounted on said" casing, a driven shaft mounted on said casing,

means actuated by said driven shaftfor'rotatmaster gear shafts in one direction at a slower rate of speed than said driven shaft, said means comprising an idler gear journalled in said casing, and means actuated by said driven shaft for rotating said differential case inthe same direction at a'highei' rate of speed whereby the other of' said master gears and associated shaft is r05 tated at a rate of speed equal to the difference I inthe rate of speed of said case and first-mentioned master gear and said reducer is provided with a medium and slow speedtake-oif shaft having rotation in the same directions.

2. A speed reducing unit comprising a main carried in said trunnion bearings and extending through SZL'lCllHZLlIl casin walls, an inter- 7 inediategeai being carried by one of said shafts and between the walls of the main and inner casings, a driving shaft journalled'in said main casing and extending parallel to said first named shafts,'a ring gear on said inner casing and means for driving said ring gear and said intermediategear from said driving shaft. i

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

DIXON E. WASHINGTON.

journalled in said inner 

